Our brains are hard-wired to appreciate immediate benefits more than even bigger rewards later on. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems like overspending, overeating or eating the wrong things, drug abuse, and more. Scientific American offers a few suggestions for "fixing this glitch," including waiting just five minutes before indulging.

If you just wait five minutes before indulging in a chocolate bar or purchasing a pricey necklace or making any other stupid move, you’ll want that indulgence significantly less, about half as much, as you did just five minutes before. That minor postponement helps level the playing field, giving the longer-term health or financial benefit a fighting chance.